Internet personality Katie Santry has become the subject of a viral TikTok drama, leaving viewers captivated by her eerie backyard discovery. On September 29, Katie shared a series of TikTok videos chronicling her discovery of a buried rug in her yard, prompting her to investigate whether her house might be haunted. What started as a spooky mystery has since spiraled into a 29-part saga involving law enforcement, internet speculations, and her growing social media fame.
The bizarre story began when Santry noticed strange occurrences in her home, including a cracked computer screen and items being mysteriously moved on her desk, even though no one had been in the room. In one of her TikToks, which has racked up over 5 million views, she expressed concerns that these events might be linked to a rug she found buried in her backyard. Encouraged by her followers, Santry contacted the Columbus Police Department to have the mysterious rug investigated.
In one of the TikToks, Santry narrated the arrival of detectives at her home, describing the scene as the officers, armed with bags and equipment, examined the rug. However, after an initial assessment, the police informed Santry that they couldn’t dedicate more resources to the case, leaving her to dig further on her own. Police assured her they would step in if something significant was found.
The saga took another turn when Santry contacted the realtor to learn more about the home’s original owners. Although the realtor could not provide much information, the homicide department became involved in the investigation. However, after a thorough examination, law enforcement determined that there were no human or animal remains associated with the rug, concluding the case on October 4.
“What did they find? No, they didn’t find a body,” Santry revealed in a TikTok. “They found a mother effing rug with some rubber.”
Following the police’s findings, internet users flooded social media with their reactions. The bizarre nature of the story, combined with Katie’s dramatic TikTok updates, sparked a wave of interest and speculation. Some netizens believed the rug might be tied to a deceased pet, while others humorously commented that the entire situation was more thrilling than reality TV.
One user jokingly tweeted, “5 bucks says it’s a deceased pet,” while another added, “Some people Halloween harder than others.”
The story took a nostalgic twist when a fan recognized Katie Santry as a longtime Jonas Brothers fan, prompting a viral tweet: “Wait lmao, I’m just now hearing about this. Is this the same Katie Santry that used to follow the Jonas Brothers around?” The internet sleuths were correct—Santry and her sister Karleigh once ran a popular Jonas Brothers fan website back in 2017.
Despite the humorous commentary, some viewers couldn’t help but criticize the obsession with the TikTok drama. “I cannot express enough how much I hate TikTok and what it did to mankind,” one user lamented on X (formerly Twitter).
As her TikTok series continued to gain traction, Santry amassed over two million followers, with fans eagerly awaiting updates. In one of her later videos, she mentioned contacting the daughters of the home’s original owners, who revealed that while they owned dogs, none were buried in the yard, debunking a popular internet theory. The dogs had been cremated, and no other clues were found regarding the rug.
In an interview with Today, Santry addressed growing speculations that her house might be haunted, adding that her family was considering hiring a psychic to get more clarity on the situation.
Despite the mystery fizzling out, the saga of “What’s in the Rug” left a lasting impact online. Santry called the entire experience “one of the most absurd and insane experiences of my life” in an October 4 TikTok, marking the end of the investigation, with law enforcement filling in the pit where the rug had been buried. The viral story may be over, but Katie Santry’s social media following continues to grow as fans await her next adventure.